The Trump administration's top sanctions official, Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John Hurley, is set to leave his position due to strained relations with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, according to informed sources.

These anonymous sources indicated that Hurley's expected departure comes after months of internal disputes at the Treasury Department over the strategy and objectives of U.S. sanctions policy. In an effort to retain this loyal and valued ally, officials are reportedly considering several ambassadorial posts for Hurley, though his future plans remain undecided.

A senior administration official stated that Hurley is currently negotiating with the White House regarding an ambassador role and maintains a positive working relationship with Bessent within the Treasury Department.

Hurley's departure represents the latest in a series of high-level personnel changes at the Treasury. According to some sources, Bessent's first chief of staff, Dan Katz, left in the autumn, and his successor, Michael Friedman, has also departed. A senior deputy to Bessent resigned in August 2025, and the crucial position of Treasury Under Secretary for International Affairs remains vacant.

Collectively, this high turnover rate has raised concerns among current and former officials about the internal stability of this core government agency, which is highly sensitive to market movements.

This personnel shift occurs as U.S. sanctions against resource-rich nations like Venezuela, Iran, and Russia are increasingly critical for international investors, global energy flows, and geopolitical risk. In recent weeks, the Treasury Department has been central to the Trump administration's efforts to ease multiple restrictions on Venezuela's oil industry, aiming to boost its oil production and open the market to foreign investment.

Hurley oversaw the Treasury's Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI) unit—a substantial office with approximately 1,000 employees that has become one of Washington's key foreign policy instruments. Over the past decade, this role has evolved into a frontline position, significantly impacting areas from oil exports to access to the dollar-based financial system.

A former hedge fund executive with close ties to the late investment legend Julian Robertson, Hurley was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in July 2025 and became a strong advocate for aggressive economic pressure policies. Colleagues describe him as disciplined, analytical, and a firm believer in the role of sanctions for projecting U.S. influence abroad.

However, according to multiple sources, internal tensions at the Treasury have intensified in recent months, centering on how sanctioning power is applied. This is particularly true regarding pushes by some of Trump's senior advisors to sanction political opponents, including foreign judicial officials and international institutions. Some career officials privately worry such actions could damage U.S. reputation and diplomatic relations, while others view the measures as consistent with the administration's overall strategic stance.

Additionally, internal unease at the Treasury is heightened as the United States awaits a mutual evaluation report from the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF). International assessors are expected to criticize recent U.S. scaling back of key anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing measures.